LuckieEddie Posted July 27 Author Share Posted July 27 Earlier in the week I also prepared the aluminium framework for the 'dome' cutting 1.3deg angles on the uprights (to create a drainage drop) and milling the holes for the joining pieces. Thanks to Justin for the time on the mill. While I was waiting for each coat of Plasti Dip to dry I was able to screw together all the framework, base and doors. I temporarily fitted the hinges to test the fit of the whole assembly. Looking good... I've since separated the doors from the body ready for fitting the body frame to the plywood base. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckieEddie Posted August 4 Author Share Posted August 4 Really good progress this weekend. Saturday morning I finished cladding the base of the 'dome' and with help from Nick got it up and mounting on the roof. Then I spent the rest of Saturday and Sunday morning cladding both the doors. This afternoon, again with Nicks help, the doors were fitted to the 'dome' base and I'm now watertight (in theory). Manual rotation works well with everything looking level and the centring castors appear to work. I've got a little bit of plastic cladding trimming to do in order to get the fit perfect between the doors and the base. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 That is looking superb Ed, love this alternate Dome and continue to watch with enthusiasm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maw lod qan Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 First I've seen this. Excellent concept and build. Really seems you've been using the ole gray matter. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carastro Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 Wow the Square ROR on a triangular base looks complex. Interesting and well thought out and built obsy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckieEddie Posted August 9 Author Share Posted August 9 15 hours ago, maw lod qan said: First I've seen this. Excellent concept and build. Really seems you've been using the ole gray matter. Use it or lose (more of) it. I always have some sort of project on the go, it's not good for me to leave my brain in neutral. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstroMuni Posted August 9 Share Posted August 9 Great design @LuckieEddie. Is there some kind of lip between the rotating parts to prevent water from seeping through? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratlet Posted August 9 Share Posted August 9 Looks marvelous. Really looking forward to seeing the finished product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckieEddie Posted August 9 Author Share Posted August 9 1 hour ago, AstroMuni said: Great design @LuckieEddie. Is there some kind of lip between the rotating parts to prevent water from seeping through? Yep, there's an upright section of the lining ring that was fibre-glassed along with the rest of the roof that overlaps about 30mm with the 'dome' base cladding, and the edge of the cladding is also raised 20mm from the roof. So unless the rain can splash vertically more than a couple of inches underneath the overhang of the base I should hopefully stay dry. 🤞 You can see the ring in the photo I posted earlier in the thread on the 19th July. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 Looking more complete and better and better each time I check in on this thread. Look forward to the demonstration video soon, or better still a personal tour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop1 Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 Just a thought- is there any risk of water pooling on the roof, inside the raised lip? If so, a drainage duct may be worth considering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckieEddie Posted August 10 Author Share Posted August 10 Today I've trimmed the plastic cladding flush so that the aluminium frame of the doors sits flat on the aluminium frame of the base. I've also fitted a rubber seal in the upward facing extrusion on the hinge side with a flat plastic mating insert in the facing door extrusion. Then along the sides where the doors close I've fitted a raised V-section that acts as an alignment as the doors close and also a water break. This was a piece that I designed and 3D printed. Now onto the door motors... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckieEddie Posted August 10 Author Share Posted August 10 9 hours ago, Alan White said: Looking more complete and better and better each time I check in on this thread. Look forward to the demonstration video soon, or better still a personal tour? Thanks Alan. Door motorisation coming soon. I'll be happy to show round once it's a bit more finished. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckieEddie Posted August 10 Author Share Posted August 10 7 hours ago, Swoop1 said: Just a thought- is there any risk of water pooling on the roof, inside the raised lip? If so, a drainage duct may be worth considering. Yep, I thought of that one. On the lowest edge I've drilled drain holes through the wrap over end pieces and sealed the joint internally with silicone. We had a little bit of rain this week and it seemed to drain okay. Typical isn't it, when the roof was off, and then done but with the hole it never stopped bucketing it down. Since I've put on the 'dome' (which I'm now informed by the wife should be called a squome [for square dome]) it's only lightly sprinkled once! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 39 minutes ago, LuckieEddie said: squome I love that, super naming 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maw lod qan Posted August 11 Share Posted August 11 On 09/08/2024 at 08:54, LuckieEddie said: Use it or lose (more of) it. I always have some sort of project on the go, it's not good for me to leave my brain in neutral. That's me as well. But I have to admit that sometimes SWMBO gets a little aggravated at my ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckieEddie Posted August 12 Author Share Posted August 12 After I made some fine adjustments to the wiring of the roof sequencer, ie. using the correct connector positions (RTFM Ed, don't assume), we have lift off! First opening/closing sequence... VID_20240812_182110774.mp4 It's about 45 seconds for both doors to open or close. A bit noisier than I was hoping/expecting but there's no insulation in the doors yet which should dampen it down a bit. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckieEddie Posted August 14 Author Share Posted August 14 (edited) The cardboard tube concrete former for the pier was delivered yesterday, and I collected the rebar pile cage today (thanks again to Nick, this time with his trailer). Tube is ⌀300mm internal diameter x 2m long, and the pile cage is ⌀200mm diameter x 3m long. The tube may need trimming down a bit - I'll find out when I do a test fit. Edited August 15 by LuckieEddie Corrected typo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty Neal Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 Love the roof opening , makes me think 'Thunderbirds are GO'. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckieEddie Posted August 24 Author Share Posted August 24 Pier concreting day. Here's the prepared workspace. Pile cage mounting on a wood surround. I've used ⌀68mm drainpipe for the cable conduit up the centre, held in place with galvanised wire for concreting. I've strapped two spirit levels to the pile cage so I can keep an eye on the level and tweak as I pour. Concrete just below the tube mount level. Removed the pile cage support ready to install the tube former. Tube former installed, spirit levels remounted on the tube, and tube base temporarily back filled to help hold in place. Looking down the tube former ready to start bucketing concrete in the top. Pouring finished, studs for fixing the the pier adaptor are held in position by a pair of wooden alignment boards, which also centred up on the sides of the tube and had a North alignment marked to match up with the line I'd previously drawn up the wall from a 12 noon shadow. Thanks and hugs to Debbie for helping with the concrete spade work, filling buckets while I lugged them up the ladder, and keeping me hydrated. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
globular Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 (edited) Coming on nicely. A minor point.... 22 minutes ago, LuckieEddie said: had a North alignment marked to match up with the line I'd previously drawn up the wall from a 12 noon shadow ... we're on BST at the moment; so The Sun is due south (and it's shadow north) at more like 1pm than 12 noon. (1:10pm today at my location). Not sure how critical this is (I suspect not at all critical), but I thought I'd mention it. Edited August 24 by globular typo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckieEddie Posted August 24 Author Share Posted August 24 Yeah, I know. I meant 12 noon UTC. I've only eyeballed it though so it won't be that accurate. I do have +/- 1deg adjustment possible on the adaptor plate and my mount has about +/- 10deg so I don't think it'll be a problem. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted August 24 Share Posted August 24 Looking good Ed, that looks and reads as a lot of work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckieEddie Posted August 25 Author Share Posted August 25 10 hours ago, Alan White said: Looking good Ed, that looks and reads as a lot of work. Surprisingly it only took about 4 hours but this morning my back is reminding me that it wasn't a gentle 4 hours. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 That was a hard 4 hours graft, of that I am sure. Not surprised your back is letting you know about it this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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